What to Do in Montreal in April 2017

Forget rain showers. April is the start of festival showers! Lots of festival arrive in the city starting the last few days of March and rolling well into summer.

McGill Drama Festival

March 29 – April 8

Each night, three shows will be performed out of a selection of productions. The shows are written, produced, and directed by (McGill) students. Check out Joshua, The Original, The Meeting to Save Goody Diana, Loops, The Ever-Present Witness, and The Mixer. Tickets are a merciful $6 for a night of shows, and $10 for a festival pass. Contact them for tickets at players.mdf@gmail.com or via the facebook group.

Salon Aventure et Plein Air / The Outdoor Adventure Show

Zip Line. Old Port. Photo Derrick Soarres.

April 1-2, Palais des Congres

With warmer weather, everyone is jonesing to get out of the city and into the great Canadian outdoors. Whether canoeing, birdwatching, rafting, hiking, camping, or taking on both larger and smaller adventures, you can meet your tribe at this show. Website HERE. $10.

Aboriginal Spring of Art 3

April 1-June 22

This multidisciplinary event takes in film, oration, theatre, dance, and art to give an alternative reading of history. The unreconciled relationship of Canada, Montreal, and the Aboriginal peoples merits attention. Check out the full list of events HERE.

Vues D’Afrique

April 4-23, 2017

Cinema from Africa takes central stage at Vues D’Afrique. This annual festival, now in its 33rd year aims to encourage both dialogue and public engagement as it showcases works from both Africa and Creole countries. There is also programming dedicated to films made in Quebec and Canada, as well as films on Human Rights and Sustainable Development. Keep an eye HERE for details.

Parents and Kids Fair

Kids painting on a canvas placed on the ground. Photo Lily Huynh

April 6 – 9, Place Bonaventure

Got kids? Well, this is fair has exhibitors and goods for sale intended for parents-to-be and those with little ones under the age of six. Exhibitors relate to daycare, education, recreation, and more. Details HERE.

Le Braderie de Monde Québécoise

April 6-9 2017, Bonsecours Market (350 St. Paul E)

The annual fashion show features hot designers with one-of-a-kind and sample pieces. Brighten up your spring and summer wardrobe by checking out this fab event. You can get stuff by Rudsak, Second Yoga, Lady Dutch, Mackage, Atelier B, Bodybag, and so much more. Details HERE.

Joseph Boyden at Blue Metropolis. Photo Rachel Levine

Blue Metropolis

April 24- April 30 2017

Montreal is a literature-loving city in more than two languages. With so many talented writers calling this place home and so many others with personal ties to the city, the annual Blue Metropolis festival is always a love-in. It’s super low-key while still drawing big names. Who will be here this year? Ann Charney, Carmine Starnino, Sky Gilbert, Stephen Henigan, and so many more. Get ready for book launches, performances, panel discussions, and even a naughty bits book club. Hotel 10. See bluemetropolis.org for more info.

420 Day

April 20

City smokers gather en masse by the monument on Mt. Royal Parc for a massive hit of high. If you’re not smoking, watch out for the cloud because the haze is purple. Some of the many things you’ll see: slacklines, hula hoops, bongs, reggae, tams, djs, activists, hippies, dreadlocks, dmc embroidery floss bracelets, all the pot kitsch you could ever want. With Justin Trudeau and the Liberals in Ottawa, we’re that much closer to legal — but not yet. Until then, there’s safety in numbers.

Papier 16

Papier 14. Photo by Andres Roget

April 21-23

The annual festival to promote artworks done on paper is always a great gathering for collectors, professionals, and creators. There are plenty of paper goods to collect on some of the nicest paper you will ever touch. Check this art festival and enjoy how a simple medium can be the basis of a myriad of works. Info HERE.

Santa Teresa Festival

April 27-29

If you can get off island, you can check out a rather outstanding line up: City and Colour, Patrick Watson, July Talk, A Tribe Called Red, The Franklin Electric, and much more. For info, click HERE.